Photo Cake

• Edible printed photo cakes are one way to honor the graduate in your life. Use their senior portrait or prom picture. For wording, you can use a squeeze-tube of frosting to write a phrase like "Congratulations, Graduate" or "It was worth the hassle for the tassel." Have the image printed on edible paper by an online company, a local bakery that has an edible cake photo printer, or invest in an edible printing system yourself.
  
  

Diploma Cake

• Bake and decorate a cake to look just like a rolled up diploma. Prepare a jelly roll or a traditional cake in a jelly-roll pan. Cover with white frosting, or a layer of fondant, in white or beige. Use a squeeze tube of icing, or a piping bag with a small round tip, to apply a thin black accent line, spiraling along the sides of the roll. Add a ribbon made from fruit leather.
  
  

Graduation Cap Cupcakes

• Cupcakes are an option for people looking for alternatives to a traditional sheet cake. Customize them by adding s'more graduation caps. Melt chocolate chips in the microwave, stirring every 30 seconds until they are completely softened. Dip marshmallows into the chocolate and place them onto graham crackers. Once they are dry, pick them up by the marshmallow and dip the graham cracker part into the chocolate. Place these on top of frosted cupcakes.
  
  For a tassel, cut a small fringe at the end of a fruit roll snack and use a little dab of melted chocolate with a small round piece of candy for the"pin" in the center. Try coordinated frosting and tassels, to match the school colors.
  
  

Store-bought Toppers

• Cake decorating supply stores, bakeries and online party suppliers distribute cake toppers for graduation cakes. These toppers are used just like the wedding variety, by placing them into the frosting of a decorated cake. They are available in different color schemes, including neutrals and common school colors. Some toppers are meant to be whimsical, showing the graduate jumping for joy or making a peace-sign gesture for example, while others have a more serious pose. Other toppers include miniature diplomas, caps and school supplies.
  
  You can add a handmade touch by adding frosting ribbons and rosettes in the graduate's school colors or sprinkling edible confetti for a festive look.